Official announcement of the Rangers call-up of Dylan McIlrath

NEW YORK, December 11, 2013 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has recalled defenseman Dylan McIlrath from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).

McIlrath, 21, has registered three goals and four assists for seven points, along with 115 penalty minutes in 24 games with Hartford this season. His three goals mark a career-high, while he established a career-high in points with his sixth of the season, an assist, on November 16 at Bridgeport. McIlrath currently leads the AHL in penalty minutes, is tied for third in the league with nine fighting majors, and is tied for second among Wolf Pack defensemen in goals. He notched a goal in consecutive games on October 6 against Albany and October 11 against Adirondack, including his first professional goal on October 6.

The Winnipeg, Manitoba native was originally selected as the Rangers’ first round choice, 10th overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Hope the kid does well but I’m not expecting much. At least he he tougher than most of the softies on the team. I know he can skate well for big kid. However, his play and decisions with the puck are big questions in my mind.

Hey, kids. Was cleaning out a closet. Found a few copies of last year’s Rangers media guide. Anybody want one before I chuck ’em? If so drop me an email at rcarpini@lohud.com. first come, first served.

IN A DESPERATE BUT LONG-NEEDED MOVE, NO-TALENTS RECALL MCMONSTER FROM THE A(MATEUR)H(OUR)L(EAGUE)

GOTHAM, December 11, 2013 – New York Clowns Association President and World Dominator Dark Sather smoked a cigar at home today and was surprised when someone on his staff (likely an intern) announced that the “club” has recalled defenseman Dylan McDemort, aka MCMONSTER, from the Hartford Puppy Pack of the Amateur Hour League (AHL).

McDermot, of legal age, has registered three goals and four assists for seven? points, along with 115 POULET minutes in 24 games with that no-name city in Connecticut this season. His three goals mark a career-high (and all-time team high), while he established a career-high in points with his sixth of the season, an assist, on November 16 at another no-name city. McDermot currently leads the AHL in POULET minutes, is tied for third in the league (and immediately first on the Rangers) with nine fighting majors, and is tied for second among Puppy Pack pylons in goals. He notched a goal in consecutive games on October 6 against yet-another no-name city and October 11 against Iraq, including his first professional score after late-night bar-hopping on the night of October 6.

The maple syrup -sipping native was originally selected behind can’t-miss players like Cam Fowler as the No-Talents’ first round choice, 10th overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

No one is asking the wrath to be the savior. We are asking wrath to clear the damn crease and play hard physical D. And should someone start taking liberties in the ranger end…maybe *for once, we will see some push back face washes*

When you draft a guy in the first round, he should be able to do more than just fight and clear the crease.

I hear he’s kind of improved his skating, but as long as he isn’t a cone like he was in juniors, I’ll be impressed. His defense was terrible before and he couldn’t move the puck. Wasted 1st rounder, but he can be a serviceable 5-6 guy.

Matty, I think Richie’s incredibly nightly floating game is acceptable to management because of the devastating effect any injury would have on his contract. And their pathetic need of offense, of course.

Stranger – the round matters because the guys drafted around McIlrath have made an impact in the NHL and he hasn’t since he was never panned out to be a superstar pick.

When you have an offensive need (which we’ve had for awhile) and Tarasenko, Schwartz, Bjugstad, Coyle, Etem, and others are on the board, you take them. I said it in 2010, and I’ll continue to say it until the kid proves me wrong (which I do hope for).

And Henrik is European, most teams didn’t start focusing on drafting/scouting a ton out of there until post 1st lockout since they were too “soft”.

And I’m one of the biggest Beukeboom fans there is, but I’m not sure he’s even be in the league in today’s NHL. He’d probably be a journeyman AHLer. Not saying he can’t coach, but if he’s grooming him to play like how he did, that’s not a good thing.

I’d imagine we all want the wrath to succeed. I just want to see pushback. Not looking to goon things up….but seriously, how many guys does Lucic need to knock on their assens before *somebody* does something about. Part of Hockey is about intimidating the other team and imposing your will. Dorsett can now stop taking on the heavies…_Asham helps a little there….wish Bickel would get called up too….no need to see Pyatt and Pouliot do whatever it is they do anymore….

Fair point stranger. I just get annoyed when the wonderful GM continually does this and fans continue to be surprised when the player doesn’t pan out. Bobby Sanguinetti was essentially a 4th forward in juniors who couldn’t play defense, yet we picked him in the 1st and missed out on Giroux, Emmerton, Seabrook, and about 15 other guys that were rated significantly higher going into the draft.

It’s the one consistent thing about Slats, he can’t draft. No need to believe the hype since he hasn’t had a guy back up his selection since the mid 80s

As for the defensive struggles? Staal turning into a concussed cyclops didn’t help and is unfortunate, but the lack of defensive responsibilities of the forwards is why the defenseman and Henke don’t look so hot this year.

Girardi has been spinning like a top since he entered the league. He’s not a great skater, average at best offensively, but he eats minutes and he’s tough as nails. With solid wing support, he’s an all-star. When he’s forced to cover more of the ice himself, he’s not a top d-man. That goes for everyone including McDonagh, who is able to make up for his mistakes with his skating ability but tends to drift too far out on D and leaves the pass to the slot wide open.

Like AV said, the offensive puck possession personnel isn’t there. The forwards can’t play much D either. That is probably in part due to the more open system. If they close that up a bit, they can turn things around.

The Rangers D are also guilty of playing chase the puck. How many times do you see both ranger D men going after the puck carrier especially as the puck carrier moves behind the net….This problem is compounded by their forwards not picking up a man or playing a body in front – especially down low.

True story. Very weird dream recently. Eddie and I bar hopping, physically fighting a couple times, meeting famous rockers, he was shorter than I imagined, but very tough. Ended the evening as blood brothers. And, no, I have no psychiatric insurance. How odd is that?

Papa, how do I get stuck with an eddie dream when there’s so much….oh, well. Don’t remember the ladies, just the rock bands and the fights which we got over as soon as they were done, and headed out repeatedly, cheerfully searching for the next bright lights.

You could argue that a lot of players are drafted and play in the NHL but don’t stay. As an arbitrary cut-off point, what about those players that have managed to play more than a season’s worth of games, ‘impact’ players.

I am as excited as anyone in captivity over this, UNTIL I ponder a couple things: 1. Yes, I understand and accept the fact that Mac’s overall game has deficiencies, which may render him a one-dimensional goon, at best, if he even makes the grade, up here.

And, 2. You can hardly name one young Ranger player, in the Sather era, who has not been treated like trash by the G.M., to where we know, given one or two games and all the pressure in the world, this kid could well be packed off, a la the J.T. Miller merry-go-round, to AHL purgatory, in what could prove to be the first of many confidence-destroying demotions. It is hard to believe that the treatment this kid gets will be any better than anyone else in his shoes has gotten, over the years.

I do think that as soon as he K.O’s some other team’s goon, it will inspire and motivate this otherwise lethargic and lackluster team. Just remember, if he does well, that doesn’t count for beans, Sather probably already has a timetable for his first ride back on the Hartford Shuttle. Just ask J.T. Miller.

Tough to lose a dad that young, Papa. I think it was either Will Rogers or Mark Twain who said something like, ‘when I was 17 I though my father was a fool; when I turned 21, I was surprised at how much he had learned in 4 years.’

I turned 21 in prison doing life without parole,
no one could steer me right,
but mama tried, mama tried
Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleadin’ I denied
That leaves no one but me to blame cause mama tried.

‘Your heroes will help you find good in yourself
Your friends won’t foresake you for somebody else
They’ll both stand beside you through thick and through thin
That’s how it goes with heroes and friends.’

Eddie – the synopsis for me is that the draft is a crap shoot. The super high impact picks like Crosby, Stamkos, Ovechkin, Malkin are easy to make. You and I can make those picks, it’s not rocket science. After that upper echelon though, it’s far less clear who is being successful.

We consistently discuss the Rangers as being poor drafters but the numbers would show that their drafted players are comparable or better in NHL production with other teams held in higher regard, like NJ or Detroit. The Islanders have drafted high picks and Philly has drafted really skilled players yet neither team has sustained a competitive edge for multiple years.

It just goes to show you that drafting is only one dimension to the success of the organization. Development, coaching, retention, free agent signings, trades – they all matter.

Pouring through the numbers I’d say the Rangers drafts have been okay. They haven’t gotten the contribution others have from their first rounders but they’ve consistently found value in later rounds.

I look at the Devils and I’m kind of surprised as I too thought they were good drafters. But the NHL has gotten 611 goals from their ‘impact’ draft picks in 13 years – 226 from Parise, 104 Zajac, would you believe Mike Rupp is next with 54, then Paul Martin at 39. Sather hasn’t drafted a Parise for the Rangers. But it shows that any team, whether through a high pick or luck – you’re only one or two impact players away from building around a core.

they are forcing the issue b/c they are so desperate for toughness…not only is he slow afoot, but his fighting skills are hardly “honed” from what I’ve seen…

.He will absolutely feel the need to prove himself as enforcer in short order -if he is in tonite not too bad -Boll and prout on Columbus- next game (Calgary) if he chooses to take on legit and seasoned heavy, McGrattan. -could be interesting